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11 months ago
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Accused Texas love triangle killer Kaitlin Armstrong turned her phone off at the time police believe she was stalking and killing victim Moriah 'Mo' Wilson, a police forensic expert testified Monday in an Austin courtroom.
Armstrong, 35, whose faces murder charges in her trial that began Oct. 30, made international headlines after she fled Austin, Texas to Costa Rica to avoid being charged with Wilson's murder last year. She recently tried to escape from custody just days before her trial began.
The alleged murderess, who cops say spent hours on the day of the murder following her boyfriend and Wilson while they were out on the town together, turned her phone off from about 7:30 p.m. to 9:47 p.m. on May 11, 2022, according to Fox News.
Wilson, who had dated Armstrong's boyfriend months before, was killed around 9:20 pm, police have previously testified.
The last text Wilson sent before she was murdered was also revealed.
'Just dropped some in. Let me know if these will work,' Wilson texted in reference to some photos she added to a Google hard drive, according to Fox News.
Moriah Wilson, known as Mo, (left) and Colin Strickland (right) met because they were both members of the professional cycling community. Strickland was dating Armstrong at the time, but the two broke up for about two months in fall 2021. During that time, Strickland testified he dated Wilson and later got back together with Wilson
Colin Strickland testified in Armstrong's murder trial over several days, describing his relationship with Armstrong as tumultuous. The former cyclist lashed out at members of the media, assaulting several photographers while exiting the courtroom
While a fugitive, authorities say Armstrong got a nose job and changed her hair color to avoid being recognized. This photo above reflects how the yoga teacher looked before becoming a murder suspect
Wilson sent the snaps to Colin Strickland, Armstrong's boyfriend who knew Wilson because they were both stars in the cycling community.
Strickland and Wilson had been in sexual relationship in late 2021 when Armstrong and Strickland had broken up briefly before getting back together.
A text message shown in court Monday between Armstrong and a friend showed the former yoga teacher went on vacation to Mexico alone while Strickland celebrated his birthday with Wilson during that break up.
'Well today is his birthday. He's at home with a 24-year-old who may or may not have moved to Austin, and I'm in Tulum solo. Mostly practicing, sound healing, meditating. Teaching some. Heading to massage now then Temezcal ceremony for a detox and rebirth,' Armstrong texted Nov. 7, 2021 to a friend.
While the digital trove on Armstrong's phone was limited, jurors also saw a photo of a 'scantily clad' woman wearing only a bra and shorts or pants.
Cyclist Moriah 'Mo' Wilson, had dinner with Armstrong's boyfriend the night she was shot and killed, prosecutors said.
The yoga teacher is pictured before the attack (left) and after fleeing the country (right). Police said she underwent plastic surgery, said to be a nose job, a brow lift, and her hair dyed brown while on the run
Armstrong's 2012 black Jeep Grand Cherokee was spotted driving outside the Austin home of Wilson's friend, where the cyclist was murdered
It's unclear who the image is of, however, earlier in this trial, Strickland testified Armstrong hacked into his phone and got a hold of sexy pic Wilson had texted him.
Strickland told jurors he and Wilson met up on May 11 since Wilson was in town preparing for a race in Texas.
The pair, who he said were just friends at the time of the killing, went for a swim and later to a restaurant for burgers and drinks.
He also admitted he did not tell his live-in girlfriend he was having dinner with Wilson to avoid having a conflict.
He saved Wilson on his phone under a different name, 'Christine Walls.'
After dinner on the night of the murder, Strickland dropped Wilson off at a friend's apartment where she was staying.
Bombshell surveillance video showing Armstrong's black Jeep circling the block where the duo was eating and at the apartment where Wilson was staying has also been seen by the jury.
In one clip, Armstrong's SUV can been seen arriving, followed by gun shots and blood curdling screams by Wilson.
In recent days, investigators from the Austin Police Department took to the witness stand to say Armstrong's vehicle GPS puts her at the scene of the crime, however, defense lawyers pushed back that there is no evidence to show Armstrong was the one driving the black Jeep.
Additionally, Armstrong's DNA was found on Wilson's bike which was outside the apartment where the shooting happened. Investigators did not say if the DNA was blood or some other bodily fluid.
Armstrong entered Costa Rica using her sister's passports in the days after an arrest warrant was issued for her in Austin, Texas. She was arrested weeks later
Armstrong is seen here arriving at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston as she was brought back from Costa Rica
Austin police issued an arrest warrant for Armstrong within days of Wilson's murder, however the yoga teacher fled the country using her sister's passport-- flying from Austin to New York and later to Costa Rica.
Jurors who will decide if Armstrong goes to prison also heard testimony about the plastic surgery Armstrong underwent while she was on the run.
Armstrong paid $6,350 for a nose job, a brow lift and filler to her lips and eyes to alter her appearance while she was a fugitive. She also darkened her hair.
In Costa Rica, she used several aliases, including 'Ari' and 'Allison' while staying at Don Jon's Lodge in the beachside town of Santa Teresa.
In July, US Marshals traveled to the Central American country where they tracked her down. Costa Rican officials arrested Armstrong for entering the country with a passport that wasn't hers.
A few days before her trial started, she tried to run away again during a visit to a doctor's office.
Officials have disclosed Armstrong faked a leg injury in order to be transported without leg irons, which is local protocol. She was seen vigorously working out in the days before he failed second escape.
She is facing separate felony charges for the botched jail break. Armstrong could spend up to 99 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors are not pursuing the death penalty.
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